Lo & Co. Blog

How to bLOw dry your bangs!

I have received a lot of feedback from my "Bangs are the new black" post about how to style bangs.  I am not a trained hair person, but I have been dealing with my own bangs for years and I found an expert video to back up my basic technique - I just love the internet! 

My Bang theory (the "little bang theory") is that bangs are like cattle - and they need to be wrangled! You really need to trick them into doing what you want by using your hair brush, blow dryer (with a nozzle), and product.  Start on wet hair and blow them straight down on to your forehead, then alternate between blowing them them in the opposite direction as well as your intended direction.  This confuses them and  makes them easier to wrangle. Those cowlicks (appropriately named!) won't know what hit them.   Then use hairspray to add weight to them and blow them over to your desired side.  Clean bangs will not stay to the side, you need to use hairspray or styling product for texture.  It becomes easy after awhile - just like riding a bike.

Come to think of it, my little bang theory could apply to men as well, they need to be wrangled in alternating directions and put in place with a little product :-)

Eva Scrivo demonstrates hot to achieve a straight bang and gives a great overview of technique.  Take what works for you and adjust to your own hair type and desired style.  Good Luck!

Learn How To Do Bangs like Eva Scrivo from evascrivo.com on Vimeo.

Get the LOok!

Miranda was getting married in New Orleans and asked me if I could help her with her look.  Please check out the detailed product list and application that I created for her bridal look.

Congratulations, Miranda!  You did a beautiful job with your makeup.  I hope that you had a wonderful wedding:-)  xoxo, Lo

Oscar disappointments

 I love to point out the positive and really try to to not dwell on negative things.  However, I am feeling a little snarky this Tuesday! These women are extremely beautiful and have professional stylists to dress them so there is really no excuse for the looking bad.  (Okay, maybe I am a little bitter since I have never attended the Oscars!!)

1.  The ROOT of the problems

Jessica Biel has won the genetic lottery and yet she looked as if she rolled out of bed and pinned her hair up with a clip.  Her hair doesn't look nearly as bad in photos as it did on camera since the flash of the camera is hiding her need for higlights.  I am also amazed that a stylist would agree with having hair just hang in her face taking away from her incredible features. I do love her makeup.

Heidi, you are gorgeous but if your are going to slick back hair, stop by your colorists!

Jessica's entire top part of her head is darker than the rest.

2. Hot Mess

I guess she is 16 going on 60.

I must go beautify a bride, but tomorrow I have a few more do and don't s from the Oscars.

Oscar Inspiration!

I am always looking for bridal beauty inspiration, but last night at the Oscars I didn't have to imagine or translate for bridal at all - it was spot one.

I found overall the makeup and hair to be flawless.  I love showing off beautiful bone structure and these updos did just that.  Kate Winslet's hair stylist, Renato Campora deserves an award for that amazing hairstyle.  My biggest dilemma I have now is deciding which dress I want for my (next) wedding.    I am torn between the dresses worn by Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway!!! What do you think?

PS Marissa is 44 and rocking that dress

Taraji Henson was perfection head to toe.  The necklace, the sexy hair cut, the pale lip and smoky eyes and the dress that made her skin look like caramel.

I also love when a woman wears the (correct) red dress!  Amy's hair and makeup is also perfect for any bride.

The belle of the ball . . . Kate!!!

l

Because it is Monday, I decided to be nice.  However, Tuesday is a new day and I will share with you what I did not like!!

Weddingbee LOve

I have been a fan of weddingbee for many years so I was thrilled when they asked me to become a pro blogger. I owe a lot of my success to weddingbee bride bloggers (say that ten times fast!) such as Mrs. Firefly and Mrs. Daisy and I still receive referrals from their blogs three years later.  Weddingbee was started by a blogging bride (Mrs. Bee) who gathered other real bride bloggers to create a super successful website that is a haven for the bride who is wants advice, support, humor from her peers.  I love being part of their fab female community.  Please take a look at the other pro bloggers at weddingbeepro. Whew, that was a lot of "b"s!!!

Lo loves Lashes!

What is one of my beauty secrets??  It’s all about the lashes, baby!

I  love lashes and it is rare that I don’t suggest that a bride at least try them during her bridal trial.  Some brides instantly get that sparkle in their eyes and cry out “Yes!” while others look as if I just suggested we strip naked and run in the streets.  As I glue the lashes on I see the first changes appear. They sit up straighter in their chair, they give side-long glances in the mirror, some even purse their lips.  Even the hesitant are amazed at how much larger their eyes look.  They all become enchanted with their reflection in the mirror and before you know it the mild manner bride-to-be has become a DIVA! I can see the wheels turning in my recently made Diva’s eyes, she starts to smile and I can see her getting the “pretty girl buzz”.  You know, the one you get when you try on a fabulous outfit (that makes you look skinny),  get the perfect blow-out, or find the perfect shoe.  It is what makes us spend more than our paycheck for the outfit, shoes and hair! She realizes that she must go out on the town because she is such a pretty girl!!   So if you have the chance to try false lashes, go for it and meet your inner diva.

Lo recommends:

Andrea #53 lashes and Duo glue (found on drugstore.com and most local drugstores)

LOok at this! Win free photo session.

My colleague and friend Monica Broz is having a fantastic contest. Please check out her site and enter to win a free photo session. Monica's work is wonderful and she always does a beautiful job.
 

So, you are Madly in Love, yes? The world around you is painted in vibrant colors and everything you hear sounds like heavenly music? Oh, come on....don't be afraid to admit those cheezy feelings! It's Valentine's Day special photo shoot giveaway! Your chance to have yourself and your Luv captured in photographs! Yaaay! ...and not just by anybody (ha! boldly speaking - we are awesome at what we do! I mean....just look at all the blog posts below!) - both of us will be there, Monika Broz & David Mielcarek to show the world how cool love can be seen through our lenses! So please don't be shy and send us a photo of both of you along with a short description of how mad your love really is (have you done a crazy thing for love lately ?) - we want to hear the story in NO MORE than 2 paragraphs of text! Yes, start writing and e-mail us now! Because that is the only condition you need to meet to get some outstanding, free photography! Woohooo!

We are waiting - don't waste time, entries are accepted till midnight March14 and the winning couple will be announced on March 15.
The shoot will take place this Spring/ Summer.
You do not have to be engaged to participate. You can already be married, too.
You must live within the Tri State area.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Lo's Favorite Blings!

 [cue the music "My Favorite Things"]

Raindrops on rose and whiskers on kittens - NO!!NO!Not Julie Andrews -  this is Lo's favorite things.  Now everyone sing a long!!!

["My Favorite Things" from the top and give me some feeling!]

Champagne, false lashes and seven carat diamonds!

This week I had the fun job of beautifying models for a DeBeers and Brides Magazine event.  I loved working with the models and they were so sweet (and, gorgeous).  They were troopers and had to stand still on blocks for 2.5 hours with very heavy diamonds on them!  Seriously, they had to smile and pose while people (including me) walked around drinking champagne and eating yummy hors d'oeuvres.

    

The event was a success and I felt a little light headed surrounded by so many diamonds (and, multiple glasses of Veuve Clicquot!).  I loved to see how each woman's face would light up as she donned these incredible pieces of jewelry.  I have included the following video even though I look dreadful, but I thought you all should see this. 

The poor girls were so tired of smiling that once everyone left I told them to let loose!

 

 

Bangs are STILL the new black!

I wrote this over a year ago, but it still holds true!

Unless you have been living in a cabin in Alaska you must know that bangs are the new black!  I remember spending a year growing out my bangs out in 1998 to have the sleek one length hair do.  Times have changed and I have chopped my locks to sport the bang look and I have never been happier!

I love bangs because they can create a great frame to your bone structure and highlight your best assets.  If you have fab cheek bones, cutting bangs at that level will draw the eye to them. If you have gorgeous eyes, a shorter bang can add emphasis. 

 

Bangs can also camouflage a less desirable characteristic. If you have a long face, like me (think Sarah Jessica Parker) bangs help to shorten and add balance to your face.  Bangs can camouflage a high forehead and also add volume to thinner hair.

  

The bride and the bang can be a wonderful thing.  Think side swept bangs that point right to your gorgeous cheekbones.  In photos, bangs can add great framing to an updo.  When photographed straight on with an updo the danger is that the face can look severe. If you have bangs it will soften up the face. 

 

Buyer Beware

I recommend gradually cutting bangs.  DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT go from no bangs to the straight across Heidi Klum look.  This can be traumatizing!  I just told this to be BFF last week (Sharon do you hear me??)  Start off slowly with bangs hitting below the nose and then work your way up.  Also put the scissors down - go to a professional.   And always remember hair does grow back, you can always slick them to the side and wear your hair in a ponytail until they grow in.

 

To achieve the bangs that we love there is usually styling involved.  Unless you have stick straight hair you will have to put a little effort into the trendy straight ! 

    

Winter Wedding!

When Melissa came for a trial in for makeup and hair trial (Jennie) at my place, we had so much fun she and Jennie stayed until midnight drinking wine and laughing.  We were all overworked and underplayed and the girl bonding was spontaneous and necessary. One of the best things about my job is the wonderful women I meet.

Melissa looks great all of the time, so it wasn't difficult to turn her into an absolute bombshell. Melissa has this Julie Christie (in Dr. Zhivago) meets Bridgette Bardot beauty and Jennie worked her magic to create a look that could start up for the ceremony and then easily be let down for the reception.

I wanted to show some of the fabulous photos by Danny Weiss since his work is gorgeous and he always tells a wonderful story with his photos.  I love Danny and I am always thrilled when he is the photographer, because he is fun to work with, but mostly because I am selfish - he always gets great beauty shots!!

Melissa never stopped smiling - I think she was happy!   

Gorgeous! (I promise to do a "get the look" soon on Melissa)

 Good looks run in this family - if there weren't so nice, I would hate them! Great job on hair, Jen.

 

  

  

I hate to brag (but I will!), her hair and makeup still look flawless at the end of the night!

 See more on Danny's blog.